Improvement in machines for twisting hay and straw for fuel



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y MACHINES For; TWISTINGHAY AND STRAW Fon FUEL. No. 180,218. I Patented July 25,1876..

' Jig? N. PETERS, PHoTu-UTHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTOU, D C,

UNITED STATES;

PATENTl QEEEcE JAMES FOSTER, OF YANKTON, DAKOTA TERRITORY.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAcIIINEs EoR TwIsTINc HAY AND srRAw PoR FUEL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 180,218, dated July 25, 1876; application filed May l, 1876.

To all whom yit may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. Fos'rEE, of Yankton, in the county of Yankton, Dakota Territory, have invented a new andnseful` Improvement in Machine for Twisting Hay and Straw for Fuel, ot' which the following is a speciiieation:

Figure 1 is a top view of my improved Inachne. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken through the line a' w, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of lthe same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. i

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved machine for twisting hay and y straw into wisps for fuel, which shall be simy the combination ot' the catch-lever and the notched disk with .the sliding frame and the crank-shaft; in the combination ot' the springcatch andthe catch-pin with the sliding frame and the inain l'ranIe; and in the combination of the hooks and the rod with the hinged box and the table or frame, as hereinafter fully described.

A is the frame of the machine. B is the top or table, which does not extend quite to one end of the frame Aa Upon the topot' the machine is placed a box, O, made in two parts, hinged to each other at their adjacent ends. The forward half of the box C is attached to the table I5, and the other half is loose, so that it can be folded down over the said stationary half. To the free end ofthe box O is attached a head, D, which is provided with 'a spring-clamp,.E, for holding the end of a wisp of hay or straw. The free end ofthe hinged halfof the box O is provided with a handle, c, for convenience in folding and extending it. To the end ofthe stationary part of the box O is attached a head, F, and clamp G, similar to the head and clamp D E. The head F is attached to the inner is attached the crank I, by which the head and clamp F G are rotated. The shaft H revolves Vvin bearings attached to-'the small frame J,

which slides in ways in the top bars of the frame A. K is a spiral spring, oneend of and its other end is attached to the inner end ofthe sliding frame J, so as to draw and hold the said frame J back. L is a lever, one end of which is pivoted to the frame J, and which is provided with a catch or projection to catch upon a notch of a disk, M, attached to the shaft H, to prevent the said shaft from being turned back by the twist ot' the hay or straw when the crank I is released. N is a springca-tch attached to the frame A, to catch upon the pin O. attached to the frame J, to prevent the `said frame J from being drawn back by the spring K. P are hooks or open keepers attached to the table B, to receive a detachable rod, Q, for holdin g the middle ofthe twisted hay or straw while doubling it.

ln using the machine', a handful of hay or straw is placed in the box 0,'and its ends are secured to the heads l) F by the clamps E G. The crank'I is then turned, and as the hay or straw is twisted, its contraction draws the head F and frame J inward until the said head F strikes the end of the box O. rlhe shaft H is theirlocked from turning by the catch-lever L, and the frame J is locked from being drawn back by the spring-catch N. rlhe rod Q is then placed in the hooks P, and the movable half of the box O is folded over upon the stationary half, doubling the twisted hay or straw. The rod Q, is then withdrawn,'al

llowing the hay or straw to twist itself into a I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, isl 1. The combination of the box C, made in two halves, one stationary and the other loose, hinged to each other, the two heads D F and their clamps E G, the crank-shaft H I, tbc sliding frame J, and the spiral spring K. with each other and the main frame A, substautially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination ofthe catch-lever L and the notched disk M with the sliding frame J and the crank-shaft "H, substantially as hercin shown and described.

3. The combination of' the spring-catch N and the catchpin O with the sliding frame J and the main frame A, substantially as here in shown and described.

4. The combination oE the hooks P and the' rod Q with the hinged f'ralne C and table B or frame A, substantially as herein shown and e described.

JAMES S. FOSTER.

Vitncsscsz GEO. H. HAND, W. S. ARNOLD, G. W. ROBERTS. 

